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Major repairwork slated on B Street, 10th, Chestnut

The city of Madras will begin a major repair of B Street from Fourth Street east to City View next week, as well as repairs to Northeast 10th and Chestnut streets. "This is going to affect the way business is done for about a two-month window," said Rod Fulton, street supervisor for the city. Because much of the deterioration of the road is a result of heavy truck traffic for the construction of the Deer Ridge Correctional Institution three miles east of Madras, the Department of Corrections has agreed to pay up to $400,000 on the project. Total cost of the project is expected to be $433,000, plus professional services, with the city supplying the difference from its Transporation Operations fund. The Madras City Council approved a contract for up to $470,000 with Hap Taylor and Sons to perform the repair and preservation project, which is expected to be completed by Nov. 15. "The B Street section of roadway under repair in this project will not handle another season of truck loading without the measures proposed in this project," Gus Burril, public works director, wrote in his explanation for the project. City Administrator Mike Morgan pointed out that about three-fourths of the major deliveries have already been made to the prison project. "The idea is to get these repairs done so we don't have a bigger repair in nine months," he said. When the city workers took core samples from the road, they discovered that there is no real subgrade beneath the pavement from Fifth Street to 12th Street, so the pavement will be entirely removed from that section to allow the contractors to put down a new base, Morgan added. Although the city intends to maintain access to businesses and residents and keep one lane open at all times, officials recommend that people use alternate routes when possible. "Staff recommend the use of Louck's Road, Oak Street, C Street and Ashwood Road as the proper detours during construction," Burril wrote.

10th and Chestnut streets

The repairs to Northeast 10th and Chestnuts streets, long awaited by residents of the Bel-Air subdivision, will get under way at about the same time. The city also approved that contract Sept. 12. "This road work is targeted to repair the street section broken up by the construction activities of the Chestnut Street Sewer Project that was approved by the council in the fall of 2005," Burril noted. Burril anticipates that construction will be completed by Nov. 15 for that project.